Errors of Electrolyte Level Analysis Caused by In-vitro Hemolysis

Main Article Content

Jinda Saisuksa-ard
Yosavee Chotchuang

Abstract

Background: In-vitro hemolysis of serum specimen is commonly found and may change the serum electrolyte values. Repeated phlebotomy is usually required and the patient could have delayed treatment.
Objective : To compare serum electrolyte values between serum with and without hemolysis, and formulate an equation to correct the errors.
Material and method : A comparative analytical study was conducted on 75 patients admitted in medical wards of Lampang Hospital and had blood sampling for electrolyte analysis. The study group was 50 serum specimens with hemolysis 1+ and 25 specimens with hemolysis 2+ The control group was 75 non-hemolyzed specimens from the same patients within 4 hours
after notification of hemolysis. The data was analyzed by paired t-test and regression analysis.
Results : Serum potassium in hemolyzed samples were higher than non-hemolyzed samples significantly (4.68±1.24 mEq/L vs 3.82±0.98 mEq/L, p<0.001) but serum sodium (135.31±7.54 mEq/L vs 136.51±7.17 mEq/L, p<0.001) and chloride were lower (98.81±10.24 mEq/L vs 100.02±10.01 mEq/L, p=0.001). Serum bicarbonate was not significantly different (21.80±5.35 mEq/L
vs 22.29±5.23 mEq/L, p=0.136). The correction equation for serum potassium in hemolysis 1+ and 2+ were y = 0.62x + 1.75 and y = 0.62x + 1.11 respectively.
Conclusion : The significant higher level of serum potassium and lower sodium and chloride were found in hemolyzed specimens. We can calculate the corrected potassium value by the formulated equation and do not require re-sampling specimens.

Article Details

How to Cite
Saisuksa-ard , . J. ., & Chotchuang , Y. (2022). Errors of Electrolyte Level Analysis Caused by In-vitro Hemolysis. Lampang Medical Journal, 31(2), 75–82. Retrieved from https://he01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/LMJ/article/view/259823
Section
Original Article

References

พรทิพย์ โล่ห์เลขา. เคมีคลินิกประยุกต์. พิมพ์ครั้งที่ 1. กรุงเทพฯ: ชัยเจริญ; 2533: 2-37.

Hira K, Ohtani Y, Rahman M, Noguchi Y,Shimbo T, Fukui T. Pseudohyperkalaemia caused by recentrifugation of blood samples after storage in gel separator tubes. Ann Clin Biochem 2001; 38: 386-90.

Dimeski G, Clague AE, Hickman PE. Correction and reporting of potassium results in haemolysated samples. Ann Clin Biochem 2005; 42:119-23.

Frank J, Bermes EW, Bickel MJ, Watkins BF. Effect of in vitro hemolysis on chemical values for serum. Clin Chem 1978;24:1966-70.

Jay D, Provasek D. Characterization and mathematical correction of hemolysis interference in selected Hitachi 717 assays. Clin Chem 1993; 39: 1804-10.

อรุณ จิรวัฒน์กุล, มาลินี เหล่าไพบูลย์, จิราพร เขียวอยู่, ยุพา ถาวรพิทักษ์, จารุวรรณ โชคคณา พิทักษ์. การเปรียบเทียบค่าเฉลี่ยของประชากร 2 กลุ่ม.ใน: อรุณ จิรวัฒน์กุล (บรรณาธิการ). ชีวสถิติ. คณะสาธารณสุขศาสตร์ มหาวิทยาลัยขอนแก่น ; 2542:144-59.

Lippi G, Salvagno GL, Montagnana M, Brocco G, Guidi GC. Influence of hemolysis on routine clinical chemistry testing. Clin Chem Lab Med 2006; 44:311-6.

Owens H, Siparsky G, Bajaj L, Hampers CL. Correction of factitious hyperkalemia in hemolyzed specimens. Am J Emerg Med 2005; 23:872-5